India puts Washington trade talks on hold after US court blocks Trump tariffs: Report

India has delayed plans to send a trade delegation to Washington this week due to uncertainty after the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, a source in its trade ministry told Reuters on Sunday.

The move is among the first concrete reactions by an Asian nation to the decision and follows Trump’s announcement on Saturday of a temporary tariff of 15 per cent, the maximum allowed by law, on US imports from all countries after the court’s rejection.

“The decision to defer the visit was taken after discussions between officials of the two countries,” said the source, who sought anonymity as the matter is sensitive. “No new date for the visit has been decided.”

The source added that the delay was mainly due to uncertainty over tariffs following Friday’s judgment.

The delegation had been scheduled to leave on Sunday for talks aimed at finalising an interim trade deal, after both countries agreed on a framework for Washington to cut punitive tariffs of 25 per cent on some Indian exports linked to New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases.

Under the proposed arrangement, US tariffs on Indian goods were to be reduced to 18 per cent, while India agreed to buy US items worth $500 billion over five years, including energy supplies, aircraft and parts, precious metals, and technology products.

India’s opposition Congress party had called for the interim pact to be put on hold, urging a renegotiation and questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to issue a joint statement before the court’s ruling.

On Saturday, the Indian trade ministry said it was studying the implications of the judgment and subsequent US announcements.

Last week, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said the interim pact could take effect in April after outstanding issues were resolved during the delegation’s visit to Washington.

(With inputs from Reuters)